The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-12-31

For ten wears after the close OF tho
war the Republican party had undspused
control of the Federal Governments ~
all its departments, and during snns
period 1t not onlJ failed TO mare necessss -
forms in the public service or to legtslate Tor
the promotion OF the general welfare, pus
ertminally neglected the material interests OF
the masses of tbs people, and, In It's anxiety to
win the applause and support OF aggregated
capital, it laid the foundation for many new
abuses which have since grown 70 aiarmIns
preportions II virtually DESTROYED the Ameri.
gan Sasy and merchant marine. IT squanderoo
the public lands BY Unnecessary ana excessive
grants to corporations, and by permitting i1rSe
and valuable tracts TO be appropriate ~
synd.cates OF spectators; ana u wasteo ING
public money by o loose and cxtravsRans
svstcm of expenditures which has no parallel
Il; mir history 1t maintained an unequal |
system of taxation, for the allowed purpose Q!
obstructing international exchanges, ana ~
the same time with glaring inconsistency,
paid subsidies out Of the public treasury 70 en-
courage foreign commerce. 1t employed tno
military power TO control elections oy ING
people and to overnwe the tribunals APP
pointed BY law TO make the returns. "
established and abolished courts and commits
slime and increased or diminished their 1uris-
dictions 10 meet political emergencies; and.
under the decisions and awards OF these tenn.
porary and irresponsible tribunals, u paio
many millions OF dollars out OF inc PUBIC
TREASURY on claims Of at least doubtful validity,
| held BY people living In o part OF the country
/ where Republican votes were sorely neeoeo.
TN IN the last moment of Its supremacy, "
| habitually used official power for partisan pur.
poses, and made its placemen an organizcd
| body OF political serfs, every one OF whom was
| compelled by the memorable law OF the party
| 10 contribute his money and MS personal Sew
ices whenever demanded.
| II is not proposed here to attempt an emu
meration of all the obnoxious measures anu
arbitrary practices Of the Republican party
while In power, but simply 10 mention few,
for the purpose Of indicating the spirit IN wnicn
IL conducted public affairs. 1t has left the
country o legacy of bad laws and vicious
methods Of administration which It VIII take
many years Of earnest labor to correct, ana II
"A evident that this task can be best
performed by those who have no per
sonal or political responsibility for the
evils that are to be remedied. Tne reconssruc.
ton of the navy and the restoration OF the
merchant marine are not likely to be accom-
plished by Q continuation Of the same policy
which reduced them to their present condition;
nor 10 It probable that such reformation OF
the civil service as will make It thoroughly
honest and effective, ann place ofhcial respon-
sibility above partisan obliy ationss can or VIII
be efYected BY the same political party which
persisentiy pursued the course that made re-
!; form necessary. 1t would be an act OF folly to
iutrust the preservation of the public domain
to the Same men who, when they hao tho
power, despoiled this great heritage OF the
! people. The same influences which surrounded
, and controlled them then surround and con-
troll them now and will continue to do so.
II Few questions of purely internal policy are
of greater or more immediate Importance 70
the people than those which relate directly OF
indirectly 70 the public lands These question:
are of supreme importance to that large
, number Of our citizens who are without otne.
1 means than the wages OF their labor, anc
( who are struggling to secure homes
: for themselves and families Unless
| | the comparatively small quantity OF arabic
{ | land now left In the hands of the Government
( | il carefully protected against the encroach
l ments of more spectators and the fraudulent
/ evasious Of the law which have already re
; suited IN the acquisition Of many millions o
acres the time Is not far distant when 1t will b
impossible for the surplus laborers In the olde
( communities to secure cheap homes In tns
Q West; and then we shall begin TO experience
. in worse form than ever heretofore. those so
t cial and political evils which naturally sprfnI
o from dense and idle populations. The situa
n ton imperatvely demands the careful revfsiol
r and strict enforcement Of the laws relating 4
Q the disposition of the public domain, 80 tina
y speculation and fraud may be prevented o
y punished. and cheap homes and good title
, guaranteed to the honest settler; the reclama
d individuals and corporations, foreign and &c
y nestle; and Just and speedy settlement OF 81
D. matters In dispute between the Governmen
y and the subsidized railroad companies; the ef
'. actment and rigid enforcement OF laws to CON
1t pei corporations to take patents for .
II the lands actually and legally earned by thc'
ID under grants from tho Government SO tns
o they may be subject to taxation by the State
" and Territories in which they are situated; ant
o finally the adoption Of Just and enlightene
10 policy for the civilization and Governments I
10 the Indians within our jurisdiction, in ordt
ID that all the substantial rights Of these depen
l. emit people may be amply protected witho'
Is unnecessarily retarding the Developments
r. our new States and Territories.
q Much has already been done during the pro
Of ent Administration to reclaim lands conditio
ae ally granted to railroad and other corporation
al to annul fraudulent entries, to prevent unla'
n. full Enclosures, and to protect the timbers M
h minerals upon the public domain; but the VOL
IT, 10 still incomplete and IL will require additio
al legislation and constant vigilance upon Il
To- part OF those charged with the admtnistratit
to Of the laws, to prevent the improper appropri
be ton of large part of the most valuable ter
z tory belonging to the Government.
IL order to do this the cooperation OF u
be legislative and Executive departments Is q
% soiutely necessary, and past experience h
Oh shown that this cooperation, except to . lii
Sc tied extent could not be secured until AFTER
ed Democratic Administration was thaugurate
" The foundations Of the existing system, una
,c- which immense landed estates have been 9
lal quired by foreign and domestic corporation
I'll and syndicates, were laid by the Republics
Of party, and the fraudulent practices which ma
vt despoiled the public domain OF its most fertl
ms and valuable sections were begun and cont
X ued while Republican ofncials alone we
on charged with the duty Of enforcing the laws o.
at protecting the interests Of tho Government u
oh the people. Even now, when the magnitude
cs the evil is almost universally recognized al
oct 4 the demand for immediate reform Is urgent
ed pressed by the homeless labor Of the COUNT
or the Republican Senate either refuses TO act
,n- all or proceeds slowly and feiuctanty 10 =
ng consideration of the subject Ga the 9th
in hand. the Democratic House has been earns